A beautiful Asmat Pirr Sago Mat.

Used in sago ritual. The mat is of a dense weaving with an abstract painted design. It was made by women, who incorporate their special knowledges of clan issues into the abstract design similar to like the men do in their shields. These mats are usually used and treasured over years and repainted at reactivation.
Asmat, West Papua. 97 x 120 cm.

890 EUR.

Papuangulfmask.

A nice and old Papuan Gulf Initiation Mask made of cane weaving with very fine decorative pattern spanning from the eyes to the tip of the beak. Note the teeth on the devouring jaws. The motive of a monster devouring the initiates is common in many Gulf cultures and this mask was to represent one such monster.

600 EUR

A fine Timor Lime Container.

With two pending lime containers of bamboo attached to an elaborate canopy of coconut shell adorned with old Dutch coins. Some of the coins are original from the 17^th Cent! Had been attached to a belt and worn by men. A very fine and beautiful piece of artwork with tiny incisions, beads and age old jingling coins. Timor.
20 cm on stand.

490 EUR.

Dogteeth.

A very fine money strand of dogteeth from the Papuan Gulf. This rare example is over 5 meters long! Such strands have been used as a currency eg at price price ceremonies. A few teeth are of porcellaine. Porcelleine teeth have been imported during the colonial time as a currency to use in trade with the indigenous people.

300 EUR

A set of four Eipo People Ear Plugs.

These ear plugs have been worn by men of the Eipo in the Central Highlands. Decorated with small incision-carvings. One plug shows the drawing of an airplain, probably a Cesna as they are often used to cater this rugged mountain area. Fine patina. Eipo-mek, Highlands of West Papua. 4 – 4,5 cm.

290 EUR.

Dogteeth 2.

A very fine money strand of dogteeth from the Papuan Gulf. Such strands have been used as a currency eg at price price ceremonies.

200 EUR

A beautiful Asmat Figure.

Hardwood, slender form and fine carving. Asmat, West Papua. 70 cm.

580 EUR.

A Jali People Net Bag of Pig Tails.

Pig tails are been collected at any pig feast (earth oven cooked!). If a collection is complete a women might work it into such a bag for her husband to use at a daily base to carry all odds of things. The jaws of the same bigs can be found neatly collected in a rack in the men’s house, smoke-patinated by the central fire. A rare and beautiful piece. Jali, West Papuan Highlands.

390 EUR.

A collection of Dayak Ear-Weights.

With 680 gramme (!) the large drop-shaped earweights of this small collection are probably the heaviest example to be found anywhere in collections or museums. A pair of small children’s earrings and a pair of sets of single rings accompany this rare find. Dayak, Borneo. The long ones 8 cm.

350 EUR.

A nice set of Timor Mandrels.

Interesting varying forms, great patinas and very special items. Timor. Ca 23 cm.

150 EUR.

Pigtusk.

A Fine Papuan Gulf Tridacna Shell pendant in the form of a pigtusk. This is a super rare item. The valued pigtusk has been reshaped out of tridacna shell. Very nice trade beads and old binding.

300 EUR

A rare and nice Brazza/ Asmat Shield.

The design is a geometrized abstract human form, tiny hands are visible at the inner ends of the red spiral motives. What is nice is that you can not actually tell if the carver intended red spirals or white ones. It’s a vexir-image, ie depending on your personal decision you see it as white OR as  red spirals. Inner Asmat, West Papua. 148 cm.

690 EUR.

A nice Citak/ Asmat Shield.

It is carved on a slightly bent board which gives it a vivid appearance when seen in reality (the images do not really show this). The motive is often interpreted as a water-motive. The yellow areas on the head of the shield are said to be cheeks. Inner Asmat, West Papua. 120 cm.

** SOLD ** Please inquire for similar items

A beautiful small Asmat Drum.

The skin is intact and held in place through being attached to the handle like it is sometimes also found on drums from the Papuan Gulf. Beautiful patina. Asmat, West Papua. 46 cm.

290 EUR.

Pigtusk 2.

Another fine tridacna shell pigtusk from the Papuan Gulf. this one is shaped after a concentric pigtusk with the edges joined together.

250 EUR

A set of Lake Sentani Glass Money/ Beads and a Ring. 

These items were used as a currency within the Lake Sentani Societies. The origin of these items is uncertain. Neatly wrapped they were usually stored away treasures. The green glass items were especially treasured and a means of ranking the glass items in value was checking the way the bubbles within the glass were dispersed and if there were bubbles at all. For this purpose the piece was held against the sun. This beautiful green ring has bubbles more beautiful than visible on the photos! Accompanied by 4 green beads. Sentani Lake, North New Guinea. Ring in diametre 10,8 cm.

245 EUR.

A precious large Tridacna Shell Money Ring.

Some of these rare rings that were used at exchange ceremonies on the North Coast of New Guinea are of this enormous large size and made of one piece of shell.  North Coast New Guinea. 25 cm, 3 cm thick.

** SOLD ** Please inquire for similar items

Shellarmband.

A nice shell armband from the Papuan Gulf. It has the nice nut tassels still attached. Old trade beads.

250 EUR

A Sepik Ancestor Figure.

This figure has served as a Betel-Nut Mortar. It is carved as a complete Janus figure, which even  the more rare as the body of both figures is the same one. Carved in beak-style with deep hollow eyes, a heavy looking body on strong legs and large feet (on both sides!) The strong figure iconographically seems to be really set for the purpose to sustain the heavy force of crunching betel nuts on the small vessel in its hands, sustaining it with its strong body. Form and function unite in a great artistic solution. Sepik, New Guinea. 21 cm.

890 EUR.

A beautiful Asmat Fu Trumpet.

Originally used at raids to be sounded over the waters as the canoes assembled. Excellent carving of deep relief. Good patina. Awesome sound. Asmat, West Papua. 38 cm.

380 EUR.

A rare Eipo West Papuan Highland Shield.

This shild from the Eipomek has been used in fertility rituals and is carved in the same geometry as the small Stone found also on this page. A deep carving with remains of red, white and yellow pigments. There are several other items from the Eipomek and Jali People to be found among the items currently on offer on these pages. A very rare piece. See the book “Shields of Melanesia” for a shield from the same area. Eipo-mek, West Papuan Highlands. 110 cm.

** SOLD **

A small Eipo Magic Stone.

Same design as the shield above and used in a similar context to enhance the fertility of garden crops. Beautiful and rare piece. Eipomek, West Papua. 12 x 7 cm.

290 EUR.

A Dani Warrior Adornment.

From the Dani in the Highlands of West New Guinea is this net-bag, that was worn at the neck hanging down to the back of a Dani Warrior. Feathers of a bird of prey. Dani, West Papuan Highlands.

** SOLD ** Please inquire for similar items

A fine Yalibu Presentation Stone Axe.

This axe was used in dances (singsings) to enhance the impression of strength of a warrior. The stone is a very dark green. Great patina and good, classic form. Mendi, Southern Highlands, New Guinea. 70 cm.

690 EUR.

A fine Huon Gulf Bowl.

With Frigate Bird motive identical on both sides below the rim of the bowl. The bottom shows the emblemic Huon Gulf Snake fround on many carvings from this area. Excellent patina. Huon Peninsula, New Guinea. 50 x 18 cm.

690 EUR.

A fine Mendi Singsing Apron.

Traditionally worn by men at singsings, made of tight weaving and the bands all ending in attached pigtails. Small bits of Opossum fur and chains of rings of woven rotan. A perfectly preserved and vibrant piece. Mendi, Southern Highlands, New Guinea. 76 x 34 cm.

745 EUR.

A fine Highland Moka Kina.

For the sake of presentation the Kina Shell had been mounted on a wooden board and attached to it by raisin. Note that this piece is an old one on real wood, not a card-board Moka Kina, like they were used after contact. Sepik, New Guinea. 40 cm.

** SOLD **

A set of three Aboriginal Woomera Spear Throwers.

All of different form. The longest one shows emu tracks painted on it. Central Australia.82 and 108 cm.

480 EUR.

A beautiful Tami Bowl in the form of a turtle.

This small Tami Bowl is of great forms and carvings. Old collection number. Huon Gulf, New Guinea. 17 cm.

** SOLD **

A fine Abelam Baba Mask.

Used at the Yam Cult, with a tuft of cassowary feathers, protruding eyes and a small mouth. Tight, old weaving. West Sepik Province, New Guinea. Stand not included. 33 cm.

590 EUR.

A fine Lower Sepik /Ramu Betel-Nut Mortar.

The decorative upper rim of the vessel is adorned with four mask-like ancestor faces. An archaic and very good carving. Sepik/ Ramu, New Guinea. 16 cm.

890 EUR.

A serene Jali Men’s Bag with Lori-Feathers.

Many men used to have a net bag with them for carrying any kind of necessary items. This is an especially beautiful one. West Papuan Highlands.

390 EUR.

A Nice Middle Sepik Coconut-Bowl.

Bold, abstract ancestor figures carved in low relief. Sepik, New Guinea. 19 cm in diametre.

125 EUR.

A set of six Solomon Island (Torres Strait?) arrows.

Fine carvings. The arrow on the right side could be Torres Strait Islands (?). Solomon Islands. 130 cm.

490 EUR.

A set of three Solomon Island Fish Hooks.

Bodies of turtle shell with mother of pearl adornments in form of small Bonito fishes. The small shell fishes were blinking in the water to attract the fish. Fine pieces. Solomon Islands. Ca 6 cm.

890 EUR.

A large Jali Ritual Stone.

Similar use as the Eipo stone and board above. Nice geometric pattern on an organicly formed flat stone. A rare piece. Jali, West Papuan Highlands. 56 cm.

** SOLD **